Bipartisan HERO Act by Bilirakis and Ruiz to Help Schools Prevent Opioid Overdoses Advances

Washington, D.C. — This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced the Helping Educators Respond to Overdoses (HERO) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R FL) and Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D CA), sending the measure to the House floor for consideration.  The HERO Act would help save lives by expanding access to opioid overdose reversal medications, such as Narcan, in schools while providing educators with critical training and equipping students and communities with educational resources to combat the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.  The legislation comes as the nation continues to face an alarming rise in youth overdose deaths. Studies show that an average of 22 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 died each week in the United States in 2022 from drug overdoses, the equivalent of losing an entire high school classroom every week. That equates to a death rate of 5.2 per 100,000 adolescents. Expanding access to naloxone and providing schools with the tools to respond to overdose emergencies can help dramatically reduce these preventable deaths.

“The HERO Act gives educators the tools they need to recognize an overdose, respond quickly, and save lives,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “I’m proud to lead this commonsense, bipartisan legislation alongside my friend and colleague, Dr. Ruiz. By equipping schools with the training and resources they need to respond in an emergency, we can empower communities, protect students and staff, and help prevent needless tragedies”

“As an emergency physician, I have cared for many patients overdosing on opioids and comforted family members of patients who were not able to receive lifesaving Narcan in time. The opioid crisis is worsening in our country and impacting children and teens,”said Dr. Ruiz. “Our children are at risk of drug overdoses, and our schools are not properly equipped to handle these situations. That is why I introduced and advocated for the Helping Educators Respond to Overdoses (HERO) Act, which will provide critical training for schools, Narcan, essential supplies, and educational resources to combat the opioid epidemic. We must continue to fight for families across the country who have been affected by this crisis and prevent the further loss of children’s lives.”

“As opioid related emergencies continue to tear apart families and communities, ensuring access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal drugs in schools and improving education about overdose treatment are commonsense efforts that will help save young lives,” said Aisha T. Terry, MD, MPH, FACEP,President of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). “This legislation will equip educators and students with overdose reversal drugs like naloxone, provide education to improve emotional health and prevent substance use disorders among students, and ensure we have the necessary data to understand the effectiveness of our ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. This multi step approach will put critical resources where they need to be to prevent avoidable tragedies and the needless loss of young lives. ACEP extends its deep appreciation to Rep. Ruiz for their leadership in championing this vital legislation.”